MAYOR DE BLASIO HOLDS PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR AND SIGNS INTROS. 923-A, 976-A, 981-B, 1005-A, 1019-A, 1020-A, 405-A, 695-A, 795-A, 997-A, 948-A, 961-A AND 968-A

   First there’s Intro 923-A, which requires the small business department – Small Business Services – to report annually on M/WBE goals met by beneficiaries of EDC loans, grants, tax benefits, leases, or sales. Sponsor is Councilmember Laurie Cumbo.

Next, Intro 976-A requires SBS to train agency chief contracting officers and agency M/WBE officers on how best to meet M/WBE goals. Sponsor is Public Advocate Letitia James.

Intro 981-B establishes an advisory board that would work to expand procurement opportunities for M/WBEs. The sponsor is Councilmember Laurie Cumbo.

Intro 1005-A requires certain agencies to publish online their plans to increase M/WBE participation in City contracts. The sponsor is Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley.

Intro 1019-A requires the City to report on each agency’s contract, showing the number and dollar value awarded to each type of M/WBE and non-M/WBE. This sponsor is Councilmember Helen Rosenthal.

Intro 1020-A requires detailed explanations of decisions made by the City’s Chief Procurement Officer regarding whether to divide big contracts into smaller contracts. The sponsor is Councilmember Helen Rosenthal.

Together, these bills will bring greater transparency and accountability to our City’s M/WBE contracting.

Three more bills that make New York City even more bike friendly. Intro 405-A requires office buildings to allow foldable bikes in passenger elevators. The sponsor is Councilmember Helen Rosenthal. Intro 795-A requires office buildings to allow bikes in passenger elevators when no freight elevator is available. The sponsor is Councilmember Jumaane Williams. Intro 695-A requires residential buildings to allow bikes in passenger elevators. The sponsor is Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez.

Now, we have a package of legislation that makes public safety statistics even more transparent. Intro 869-A requires the NYPD to report quarterly on all sex offenses broken down by specific felony or misdemeanor. The sponsor is Councilmember Laurie Cumbo. Intro 948-A requires the NYPD to report monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, and annually on domestic violence and quarterly and annually on hate crimes. The sponsor is Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. Intro 961-A requires the NYPD to report quarterly and annually on intimate partner domestic violence. The sponsor is Councilmember Antonio Reynoso. Intro 968-A requires the NYPD to report semi-annually and annually on domestic violence in public housing and quarterly and annually on the percent of reported felony crimes citywide related to domestic violence. The sponsor is Councilmember Ritchie Torres. 

Finally we have a bill that updates pedestrian safety laws to better reflect how New Yorkers actually cross the street. Intro 997-A clarifies that pedestrians crossing the street have the right of way when a crossing signal displays a walking person, or a flashing hand, or a countdown clock.